This week, we shared a popular update that Luigi – the most famous tire salesman in Cars Land – is returning to Disney California Adventure park with some special guests.

Erin shared that Luigi has invited all of his cugini (cousins) from his hometown of Carsoli, Italy, to visit his Casa della Tires. To help celebrate Race Day in Radiator Springs, they will demonstrate the dances of their village with Cars Land guests when the all-new Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters opens early next year.

Keep checking back for more updates in the future right here on the Disney Parks Blog.

In honor of the anniversary, Disney designer, Leo Cardoso took that love of old black & white spooky films and translated it into a cool new wallpaper featuring the attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Be sure to check out the terms of use about using the wallpaper before you download it.

We also continued our popular “Building the Dream: The Making of Disneyland Park” series with an attraction that debuted less than a week after Disneyland opened – Rocket to the Moon. The attraction allowed Disneyland park guests the chance to travel around the far side of moon and back in just 10 minutes – all without leaving Disneyland.

Flight to the Moon eventually became Mission to Mars, and today, Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port occupies the same “space” in Tomorrowland – complete with a tribute to the original Moonliner right out in front.

Check George’s original story for a group of great images and more details

Here are some of the other stories we worked on this week.

#CoolestSummer Ever: Ep-Cool – As it’s written in the sage words of many a colorful Walt Disney World Resort brochure, “Epcot is the only place where you can travel the world, voyage to the bottom of the sea and zoom into space — all in one unique park.”

Create Your Own Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration Video – For the past few months, we’ve been inviting guests to celebrate 60 years of magic and memories with us during the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration. Now we have a way for you to celebrate at home – with some of your own favorite memories!

As part of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration, it was announced that we will honor 60 years of Walt’s dream with the “Million Dollar Dazzle” program. Each month during the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration, the Million Dollar Dazzle Crew will surprise one or more Southern California nonprofits with a $60,000 gift, totaling more than $1 million.

Check out Erin’s story for more information. And check back on Monday for new video from the celebration.

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Disney chairman and CEO, Bob Iger also unveiled new, exciting details on Shanghai Disney Resort, the area’s first Disney destination, and the six themed lands planned for the Shanghai Disneyland theme park.

During a special event that included Disney COO Tom Staggs and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek, Bob Iger shared a peek at what the Resort will look like with the unveiling of a spectacular scale model showcasing its two hotels, Disneytown – its international shopping, dining and entertainment district, Wishing Star Park’s beautiful gardens and six themed lands of mainland China’s first Disney theme park – Shanghai Disneyland. Check out video from the event.

Our original story has more details on each of the themed lands, including Tomorrowland, where guests will be able to experience the TRON Lightcycle Power Run and more.

If you joined us for this week’s Shanghai Disney Resort update, you know about some of the amazing experiences coming to our first theme park in mainland China – Shanghai Disneyland. Disney Chairman and CEO, Bob Iger shared a first look at what’s planned for Shanghai Disneyland during a special presentation that included details on its six themed lands with live stage productions, world premieres and thrilling attractions as well as a spectacular scale model of the world-class park. Check out new video from the presentation.

Just a few minutes ago in China, Disney chairman and CEO, Bob Iger unveiled new, exciting details on Shanghai Disney Resort, the area’s first Disney destination, and the six themed lands planned for the Shanghai Disneyland theme park.

Shanghai Disney Resort will be a world-class family entertainment destination that blends the magic of Disney and the cultural spirit and beauty of China. And during a special event that included Disney COO Tom Staggs and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek, Bob Iger shared a peek at what the Resort will look like with the unveiling of a spectacular scale model showcasing its two hotels, Disneytown – its international shopping, dining and entertainment district, Wishing Star Park’s beautiful gardens and six themed lands of mainland China’s first Disney theme park – Shanghai Disneyland.

“We are building something truly special here in Shanghai that not only showcases the best of Disney’s storytelling but also celebrates and incorporates China’s incredibly rich heritage to create a one-of-a-kind destination that will delight and entertain the people of China for generations to come,” said Iger speaking to media during today’s presentation at the Shanghai Expo Centre. “We are taking everything we’ve learned from our six decades of exceeding expectations – along with our relentless innovation and famous creativity to create a truly magical place that is both authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese.”

At Shanghai Disneyland, Disney stories will come to life at the tallest, largest and most interactive castle at any Disney theme park. The themed lands will offer something for everyone with live stage productions, world premieres and thrilling attractions ­­– many never seen before – that will appeal to guests of all generations. Guests also will be able to experience Disney characters in each land, including Mickey and his pals on Mickey Avenue and in Gardens of Imagination.

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In Tomorrowland, one of the six themed lands, guests will be able to experience the TRON Lightcycle Power Run, a new coaster-style attraction where riders board a train of two-wheeled Lightcycles for one of the most thrilling adventures at any Disney park.

Along with Tomorrowland, we have a more detailed look at the lands coming to Shanghai Disneyland:

Fantasyland will be the largest land and home to the majestic Enchanted Storybook Castle that we’ve already featured here on the Blog. In this fairy-tale paradise, guests will float through familiar Disney stories on Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, hitch a rollicking ride on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and take flight over the skies of London on Peter Pan’s Flight. They may also explore the Hundred Acre Wood with Winnie the Pooh or follow Alice through a dazzling Wonderland maze.

Treasure Cove– will be the first pirate-themed land in a Disney park. As guests explore this pirate world, they will enter Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, an attraction that transforms a boat ride into a thrilling journey with cutting-edge innovations in robotics, animation, set design and multimedia. Adventurous spirits will be tempted to board a pirate ship, paddle through the scenic cove on Explorer Canoes and dine at Barbossa’s Bounty.

Adventure Isle will immerse guests in a newly discovered lost world, filled with hidden treasures and a chance to explore its mysteries. The mighty Roaring Mountain will tower over guests and beckon them on their journey. Guests can blaze their own trails at Camp Discovery, travel around the world on Soaring over the Horizon, or embark on the thrilling rafting adventure Roaring Rapids, straight through the heart of Adventure Isle. There they discover the underworld realm of a mysterious, fearsome creature.

Tomorrowland will not only include the TRON Lightcycle Power Run but also offer the chance for guests to go to infinity and beyond on Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue, a new space ranger adventure, or break the bonds of gravity on Jet Packs. The land will feature a massive, color-shifting canopy near the TRON Lightcycle Power Run.

Mickey Avenue will be the first main entry at a Disney park inspired by the colorful personalities of Mickey Mouse and his pals. In the neighborhoods of this welcoming, whimsical avenue, guests will share a hug and get a photo with some all-time favorite Disney characters. Avenue M Arcade, one of the many shops along the avenue, will feature the largest selection of gifts and collectibles inside the theme park.

Gardens of Imagination will celebrate the wonders of nature and the joy of imagination, as guests leave everyday life behind to enjoy the seven whimsical gardens. Guests will take a spin on the Fantasia Carousel, soar on the back of Dumbo the Flying Elephant and enjoy the area’s iconic Disney entertainment, including Castle stage shows and “Ignite the Dream, a Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light.” From several places in this land, guests will enjoy “Mickey’s Storybook Express,” an exciting parade with its own musical soundtrack and colorful performers on the longest parade route in a Disney park.

Since breaking ground in 2011, Disney and Shanghai Shendi Group announced that they were expanding the park by adding additional attractions and entertainment to allow more guests to have a spectacular Disney experience at Grand Opening in spring of 2016. Stay tuned for more updates on Shanghai Disney Resort.

The Candlelight Processional is presented three times per night at the American Gardens Theater at Epcot. Show times are 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. from November 27 to December 30. This year’s narrator list includes Neil Patrick Harris and Whoopi Goldberg. Our updated list and more details on the dining packages can be found in our original story.

You can also reserve your Candlelight Dining Packages this weekend by calling (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463.

Disney Vacation Club members chose the names Tinker Bell and Marina for this year’s turtles, and guests at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort will meet them at Tour de Turtles on August 1. Starting at 7 a.m., guests can watch as we attach a satellite transmitter to the shells of the turtles so we can track their movements.

A Look Back at ElecTRONica at Disney California Adventure Park – It’s been more than 30 years since Walt Disney Pictures released “TRON,” but it wasn’t that long ago that Disney California Adventure park guests stepped into the Grid themselves during the nighttime dance party, ElecTRONica. Let’s take a look back at this guest favorite.

We have great news to share – the special pricing we announced last July on theme park tickets and accommodations for active duty and retired U.S. military personnel at our domestic sites will be extended now through mid-December.

This week, we shared a first look at our plans for a “Frozen” attraction in Epcot and more of what you can expect to experience when it opens in 2016.

“Frozen Ever After,” will be an adventure fit for the entire family that’ll take guests through the kingdom of Arendelle. The fantastic Disney storytelling combined with new technology and favorite moments and music from the film will make guests feel like they stepped into the magical world of “Frozen.”

You can find more information about the attraction in our original story.

Top Five: Donald Duck at Disney Parks – Over the years, Donald’s been a guest favorite at Disney Parks around the globe, whether it’s meeting him during a character greeting, spotting him in “Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade” or shopping for Donald gifts.

Celebrating 1 Million @DisneyParks Twitter Followers – One of the popular Twitter accounts for many Disney Parks Blog readers – @DisneyParks – just reached a big milestone – 1 million followers. And to help celebrate the occasion and thank all of our fans, we’ve gathered some of your favorite Disney characters for a special stop-motion surprise.

One of the popular Twitter accounts for many Disney Parks Blog readers – @DisneyParks – just reached a big milestone – 1 million followers. And to help celebrate the occasion and thank all of our fans, we’ve gathered some of your favorite Disney characters for a special stop-motion surprise.

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